Airplane construction



July 3, 192s. v1,676,231

C. H. POWELL AlRPLANE CONS TRUCTI 0N Filed July 30, 1926 m" Zw/@WM .flTTORNEY.

i in Fig. 5.

Patented `luily 3, 1928.

CLARENCE HENRY A man AIRrLANEMooNsTRUcTIoN. i

Application sie@ iuiy lao, 192e. serial inmensas;-

" My invention relates to improvements in tliestr'eamlining ofaircraft,lparticularly air-y planes. i

i Accurate and complete streamlining'iii order to reduce to a minimumthe air resistance of an airplane' isa'matter ofconsid'ei-` ableimportance wherefore the braces used in its' construction, such as thestruts and wires,

are vnow streamlined and ithas been found that such practicematerially-increases the possibleirateoftravel of the craft. The

connections', however, whereby these' braces Fig. 2 is asectional viewshowing the con-k are secured toV parts of the craft, such as the wingmembers or fuselage, offer, if exposed,

considerable resistance; and `if' ,concealed i within the interior ofthe wing member or fuselage wall', they are not readily accessible forinspection. Y Y I My invention relates 'to improvements l'instreamlining 'these connections andiis illus trated as embodied in ahousingV or sheath adapted to surround such a connection and Vwhich'housing isrpreferably readily rem`ovl struction illustrated in Fig. 1.

i Fig. 311s a sectional `View taken on line 315-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig.' 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 i Fig`. 5 -is modificationof my invention.

Fig. 6 is an elevationof the device shown of F ig.,V 2.

a fragmentary elevation of a Fig. 7 is a plan of Va second modificationof my invention..

Fig. s is a perspective 'of than mediaan.

tion ofv my invention. i

f vFig.9uis a sectional view ofthe structure shown invFig. 7 g f v yFig. 10 is a sectional view of lan additional modification of my`invention.

.f In airplane construction Ait isv necessary POWELL, v.or DETROIT,MICHLGAN, AssIGivoRY or ONE-HALF. RALPH J; BURTON, or nnmnorr, MICHIGAN.i. i

that bracessuch 'as the struts andvwires 'be secuiedfto the parts to beb racedby suitable' connections which are commonly 'positionedexternally the wing vor fuselage to which the brace is attached. vlhensoexposed this connection oifers very considerable air re- 4sistaiice andimpedes'the travel of the machine. It is not uncommon i practice tovmount this -connection within the interiorof the wing or fuselage, yetwhile `this character ofmounting offers no wind resistance, itis f lnotreadily accessible.` Such interior mount v Vmg is frequently adopted,however, particuek larly in racing machines. Tlieresistance of-' feredby an exposed connection isconsider.-

ably greater Athan what Vwould normally be I havev provided an limprovedstreamlined housing adapted to be supported about av connection such asabove referredto., Various modifications of my ,invention are Ashow/ninthe figures .ofthe drawing. Ajpreferred construction is illustrated inyFigs. 1,2, 3, and 4'.v 'In such figures of the drawing, let 10 in-'dicate' a'- partrof the" aircraft suchfas a wing member ory fuselagemember to which Y*co-nfk 'inection is lmade ofabrace membersuch wire 12.It is common practice at the prese ent time'to Vstreamline these wires12. The ends of the wires, however, are'noifmally left aesy round incross-sectionand are threaded to be engaged with acoupliiig. 14, which'may be secured to an attachmentilG as bya pin 18.

' .My invention' comprises a streamlined 1 housingr adapted'to surroundthe. connection between the wire and that portion -of the ship to whichit is attached, which housingis Vshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive as com-1 prising a pair of clamshell like complementary lsections 20. `Thesesections preferably haveinterloclrededges as shown in'Fig. 3

and may be held together bythe pin or bolt 18 which secures the wire 12tothe lattachment 16, which shell is here .shown as provided with adepression 22. The head 24 of the pin l'seats'` within thedepression22'inoiie t i' shell and the nut 26 carried by the p inf18 streamlinedto i offer the least'ipossible air resistance `and taper from the basewhich joins the part 10 of the vship toa point whichl is Vhere shown assurrounding the .circular portion of the wire 12 as shown in Fig. v1. Ifthe shell Vengages aboutthe circular por- Aseats within the depression22`of the coinplei J ymentary shell. The two'shellsare suitably iio tionofthe Wire as is Vhere illustrated, it is possible to rotate the Wire toadjust its tension Without removing theV shell.

In Figs 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of .construction adapted toserve as a housing to enclose the connection formed between a strut 28and a wire 12 and the part 10 of the aircraft. Thishousing is formed intwo connections, 30 and 32, which may bc'fastened in position in asuitable manner as by means of screws such as are Y used to securethe'housing shown in Fig. 9

in place. Y

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated my invention as comprising a yunitarystrncture 3d which is shown in Fig. 9 as fastened in place Vby means ofscrcivs 36, so asV to cover` Fig. 10 I Yhave shown a housing such as isillustrated vin Fig'. 7. Instcad'of employing screws V36 to fasten thesame into position, I'malte useV of a fastening'plate 114e which has agrooved periphery andthe baseof the housing is crimped therein as at 46.rlfhe housing tapers to a point adjacent the Wire 12 as heretoforedescribed and the construc-,

tion otherwise is as has already been set forth. Y

lVith "my improved housing` it is possible to readilyremove the same `toinspect the connections. The connection between the brace, Whether aWire or strut, with the adj acent portion of the machine, is streamlinedVso lthat the air resistance is reduced to a minimum.

IVhat I claim is:y n

1. AY housing for the fitting of an aircraft, comprising a pair ofcomplementary clamshells provided With interlocking edges secured.together by a pin extending transversely vtherethrough and having ahead at earch end seated Within a recess formed in saidshells;

2. .An-aircraft having a Wire connection provided, with a transverselyextending pin, a 'streamlined Wire having a round endportionfthreadedinto said connection, a streamlined housing comprising apair of comple-V mentary clamshells held together by said 'about said'connection and AWire, said housing 'terminating at one end in a partAsurifounding the. round portion of the AWire permitting rotationthereof.

An aircraft having a connection for 'a ivi're, "a streamlined lvirehav-ing a lfound end 1 secured vtogether b y said pin, said 'pin pVabutting said part of the craft and tapered to 'uncover said` point. Y

portion threaded into said connection and a streamlined housing having apart embracing theV round end portionv of the Wire whereby rotation ofthe Wire is permitted and extending therefrom to completely enclose theconnection.

a. In an aircraft having a streamlined member securedby a suitableconnection to a part of the craft, a streamlined housing about saidmember and connection and com-` 7. In' an laircraft having astre'ai'nli'ed Wire secured thereto by a Yconnection-piovided with atransversely entendi pin, a streamlined housing about 'said 'connectioncomprising a pair of complementary 'shells vided With a head at reachend, leach shell provided vwith a depression ad'zqted to re-l ceive oneof the headsjof Asaid pin. Y

8. In an aircraft having a stream-lined strut fastened at one end by aconnection to a part of the vcraft and a streamlined vire extendingangularly from a point in proximity said connection, a streamlinedvhfni's'ing about said connection having a flaring end to its point ofcontact With the strut and o vided with an opening for the "streamlinedWire. l

9. In an aircraft having angularly disposed partsl secured "together Ibyan V'externa] connection, a streamlined housing detachably secured toone of said parts surroundingfsaid connection and embracing the other dfsaid parts. n

10. In an aircraft having a 'pair offangularly disposed parts securedtogether, a streamlined housing Vremovably 'secured to one of saidpartsand surroundinigithe 'jointformed betiveen said parts.

11. In an aircraft having a pair angularly disposed parts secured"tOgether, .a streamlined housing surroundingne aid parte and the 'jointformed 'the'reBetWee-n, said housing being capable of nieve'WIA "ntllongitudinally `ivith respect toene of said'fplits 12. In an man,Vpersan l streamlined v vire `"see'u`r`et l "theret'o by trinitern'alconnection, a streamlined sheath ieu about said connection tapered `fromits ypoint of contact Withsaid portion to itsvpoint of Vcontact with theWire.

13. In an :aircraft having a streamlined member provided With anexternal connection at one end, a streamlined sheathl sui'- roundingsaid connection Vand capable of- Y movement longitudinally With respectAto the member to uncover the connection.

. 14. In an aircraft having a brace fastened thereto by a connection, ahousing- .of light deformable material about said lconnection I andbrace and tapered from a reduced end surrounding said connection andhaving ,one Y closely engaging said brace to an enlarged opposite end. ll

15. In an air aircraft, a streamlined brace fastened thereto by aconnection, a streamlined housing of light deformable material endcrimped into close Contact With the brace. 16. In an aircraft, a bracefastened thereto by a connection7 a streamlined housing labout saidconnection having an enlargedv Y end portion secured to al part of theship 'and a reduced end portion surrounding the brace.

17. In an aircraft, a streamlined brace fas-V tions and provided withmeans for being y lfastened in place.

18. In an aircraft, `a brace Wire shaped so as to have low headresistance and provided With an end connection vsecuring the Wire to apart offthe craft and a housingfshaped so as to have lovv headresistance surrounding said Wire -and enclosing saidconnection.

i9. In an aircraft, a flattened brace Wire having ay threaded endportion, la connecv tion `adjustablyy secured to suchend anda 9streamlined sheath assembly positioned about ,I said connection. Y

. 20. Inan aircraft, a attened brace Wire.

adjustably secured to a connection carried by the craft andrastreamlined housing surrounding said connection and extending beyond theend thereof along the Wire,`vsa id housing formingno part oftheconnection and being readily removable to Apermit 'inspectionthereof.

21. An aircraft having an external tting,

a flattened braceKV Wire threadedly engaged' With said fitting and astreamlined housing surrounding v4said AWire and enclosing saidfitting,rsaiol housing so embracing the ,Wire p as'to ypermit rotationthereof vvith respect 22. In an aircraft, a flattened brace wire, j

' a forked end connection adjustably threaded to the fitting.

thereon, means securing said connection toa part of the craft, astreamlined housing sur.- roundingsaid means and connection land snuglyengagingl about said Wire.

In testimonypvvhereof, -I sign this specification. f

CLARENCE HENRY POWELL;

